Commission sets out new strategy on combating trafficking in human beings
Today, the European Commission sets out a new strategy to combat trafficking in human beings. In 2023 and 2024, more than 20,000 victims were registered in the EU, a 16.1% increase, though many cases remain unseen. Trafficking takes many forms, including sexual exploitation, labour exploitation, forced criminality, begging and forced marriage. The new strategy aims to fight this dynamic, focusing on six priorities: better use of technology to prevent and detect trafficking, working more closely with businesses and labour inspectors, stepping up action against organised crime, addressing risks linked to migration, improving preparedness in times of crisis, and strengthening support and protection for people at risk and victims. Traffickers continue targeting people in vulnerable situations. Women and girls accounted for 63% of registered victims, mainly for sexual exploitation; children represented 15%; and men were the majority of victims trafficked for labour exploitation (74%). To fight more efficiently the increase in trafficking, the EU must adapt its response. Ahead of EU Anti-Trafficking Day on 18 October, the new strategy sets out six strategic pillars for a coordinated and future-proof approach: harnessing modern technology strengthening private sector engagement to reduce exploitation risks and improve early detection; disrupting transnational trafficking linked to organised crime; preventing exploitation linked to migration; enhancing prevention, preparedness and rapid response in crisis situations; and improving the protection of persons vulnerable to trafficking.
More information available in our press release.
(For more information: Markus Lammert – Tel.: +32 2 296 75 33; Fiorella Boigner – Tel.: + 32 2 299 37 34)
Commission awards 2026 New European Bauhaus prizes for sustainable, inclusive and beautiful projects
The European Commission has awarded the New European Bauhaus (NEB) Prizes 2026 to 13 laureates from several EU countries, Ukraine and North Macedonia, as well as Japan and Brazil, which won the international competition of the awards. In their sixth edition, the NEB prizes reward outstanding projects, concepts and ideas that combine sustainability, inclusion and aesthetics, demonstrating how the lives of people and communities can be enriched by bringing together culture and technology, innovation and design.
The prizes were awarded in two strands: one for established projects (the ‘New European Bauhaus Champions’) and one for promising initiatives from younger applicants (the ‘New European Bauhaus Rising Stars’). The 2026 edition also includes a special prize for water resilience and international prizes for projects from Brazil and Japan.
Alongside the NEB Prizes 2026, 20 small municipalities were awarded the NEB Boost for Small Municipalities. This highlights the crucial role these communities play in shaping a future that is more sustainable, inclusive and beautiful. This new initiative is supported by a pilot project of the European Parliament.
All winners received a monetary prize of up to pound 20,000 and a dedicated communication package, as well as targeted coach support and mentoring to strengthen their visibility.
President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, said: ‘For the past six years, this competition has shown the very best of European creativity for building a sustainable, inclusive and beautiful future. This year’s special prize highlights the importance of water resilience and improving the way we manage water – one of our most precious resources. And the international prizes show how the values of the New European Bauhaus resonate beyond Europe, from Brazil to Japan.’
More information in the press release online.
(For more information: Maciej Berestecki – Tel.: +32 229-66483; Isabel Arriaga e Cunha – Tel.: +32 229-52117)
Commission launched RAISE pledging initiative to boost AI support for researchers across Europe
Yesterday, at the European AI in Science Summit in Dublin, the Commission launched the RAISE (Resource for AI Science in Europe) pledging initiative for AI in science enablers. This aims to mobilise private-sector and philanthropic support for European researchers working across artificial intelligence (AI) and science.
The initiative is part of the AI in Science Strategy. It brings together in-kind contributions from industry and philanthropic organisations, such as access to frontier AI models, computing capacity, research software licences, data, training and other resources needed to advance scientific discovery with AI. It also aims to connect scientific excellence with technological expertise and resources to speed up progress in AI for science.
More information is available in the press release online.
(For more information: Maciej Berestecki – Tel: +32 229-66483; Isabel Arriaga e Cunha – Tel: +32 229-52117)
Statement by Executive Vice-President Mînzatu ahead of International Day for the Eradication of Poverty
Ahead of the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, the Executive-Vice President for Social Rights and Skills, Quality Jobs and Preparedness Roxana Minzatu issued the following statement:
Poverty must not define anyone’s future. Too many people across Europe are still unable to afford a home, heating, food, healthcare or education. Currently, one in five Europeans is at risk of poverty and social exclusion, among them 19.3 million children, while more than 1.4 million people are homeless or do not have secure housing. This is unacceptable and we all have a duty to act against poverty and exclusion. Earlier this year, we adopted the first ever EU Anti-Poverty Strategy, to accelerate progress towards the EU target laid out in the European Pillar of Social Rights Action Plan of reducing the number of people at risk of poverty and social exclusion by at least 15 million by 2030 and helping eradicate it by 2050. Five months on, the implementation of the Strategy is already well under way. The Council is expected to soon approve the Commission’s proposal for a recommendation on fighting housing exclusion, the first EU legal act on homelessness and a decisive step in helping people facing one of the harshest forms of poverty. For those who can work, the best way out of poverty is quality jobs. Those in poverty are often those who need the most support to enter the labour market. Support to activation is not only key to address poverty, but also a matter of competitiveness and untapped talent – our economy cannot afford leaving almost 50 million people outside the labour market. That is why, together with the Communication on the European Pillar of Social Rights, we launched in July the first-stage consultation of European social partners to obtain their views on possible EU action to support those facing significant barriers to the labour market.
The full statement is available online.
(For more information: Louise Bogey – Tel.: +322296776; Eirini Zarkadoula – Tel.: +32 2 295 70 65)
EU at COP17 to take stock of implementation of Global Biodiversity Framework
Starting on Monday in Yerevan, Armenia, the UN’s Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP17) will take stock of the progress on the implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework agreed at COP15 in 2022.
From 19 to 30 October, the EU, represented by the European Commission, will work with the countries and organisations participating to turn commitments into action – stepping up implementation, mobilising finance, and ensuring that Indigenous People and local communities can participate effectively.
Executive Vice-President for Clean, Just and Competitive Transition, Teresa Ribera, will represent the EU at the pre-COP Leaders’ Summit on Biodiversity on 16 October, which is expected to express renewed commitment to the implementation of the Global Biodiversity Framework. Commissioner for Environment, Water Resilience and a Competitive Circular Economy, Jessika Roswall, will lead the negotiations during the High-Level Segment from 27 to 28 October.
The EU will host side-events throughout COP17 to showcase initiatives supporting an ambitious Global Biodiversity Framework implementation. Among those, on 27 October, Commissioner Roswall will launch the Friends of Credits for Nature and Biodiversity Initiative to mobilise further resources from all sources, including public, private and philanthropic.
Executive Vice-President for Clean, Just and Competitive Transition, Teresa Ribera, said: ‘Yerevan should be the COP of proof, not only of promises. Healthy ecosystems are indispensable for climate resilience, water security, food security and long-term prosperity. Protecting and restoring biodiversity is not a cost. It is an investment in our future, our economies and the next generations. Now it’s time to turn the ambition of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity framework into delivery.’
Commissioner for Environment, Water Resilience and a Competitive Circular Economy, Jessika Roswall, said: ‘Nature is at the heart of our economy and our resilience. The EU is implementing ambitious policies to protect and restore nature and is a major supporter of biodiversity protection worldwide. We need to collectively accelerate the implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework to ensure a future that is sustainable and resilient for all.’
You can find more information on COP17 on biodiversity online.
(For more information: Anna-Kaisa Itkonen – Tel.: +32 2 295 75 01; Maëlys Dreux – Tel.: +32 2 295 46 73)
Commissioner Jørgensen in Slovakia to discuss energy prices and security with Visegrad Energy Ministers and continue his Affordable Housing Tour
On Monday, 19 October, Commissioner for Energy and Housing Dan Jørgensen will be in Bratislava, Slovakia, to discuss high energy prices and security of supply with the energy ministers of the Visegrad Group (Czechia, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia).
After a bilateral meeting with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy of Slovakia, Denisa Saková, the Commissioner will hold a series of thematic discussions with the Visegrad Energy Ministers focused on energy affordability, security of supply, and the development of the EU post-2030 energy framework.
Following their exchanges, the Commissioner will participate in a joint press conference with Deputy Prime Minister Saková; Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Industry and Trade of Czechia, Karel Havlícek; Minister of Economy and Energy of Hungary, István Kapitány; Minister for Energy of the Republic of Poland, Milosz Motyka at around 11:30 CEST. You can follow it on the European Broadcasting Service (EBS_).
As part of his ‘Affordable Housing Tour’, in the afternoon Commissioner Jørgensen will visit a housing renovation project aimed at improving the energy efficiency of the houses (for instance with insulation works, boiler replacement, solar panels installations) to increase savings for the families. This project has been supported by the EU via NextGenerationEU. The Commissioner will also meet with the organisation ‘Buildings for the Future’ which gathers key stakeholders in the housing sector in Slovakia.
Audiovisual coverage of the visit will be available on EBS.
(For more information: Anna-Kaisa Itkonen – Tel.: +32 2 295 75 01; Cristiana Marchitelli – Tel: +32 2 298 94 07)
Commission hosts hackathon to develop forward-looking tools to support the farmers of the future
Starting today, the European Commission is hosting its first ever EU Agri-Hackathon, which will take place over the course of three days. The event will see participants developing practical and forward-looking digital tools to support the farmers of the future, responding to their concrete needs.
Hackathons are collaborative events where people work intensively to build a functioning software or hardware prototype.
This event will bring together over 110 participants, including farmers, developers, researchers, students, entrepreneurs, and agri-food professionals. The participants will work together towards a more sustainable, resilient, and innovative agricultural sector in Europe. They will face three tasks to address common challenges EU farmers face. These include saving time by improving efficiency, simplifying how they manage and use the data their farm generates, and simplifying the sharing of information and engagement with value chain partners. The teams will work to provide concrete benefits to farmers to save them time and reduce their administrative burden. Participants will benefit from mentorship from experts in the fields of agriculture, technology, research, and policymaking to design practical, farmer-centred digital solutions.
Commissioner Hansen said: ‘I am delighted to see so many applicants for the first ever EU Agri Hackathon. This shows the commitment of EU citizens, whether that be farmers, developers, researchers, to shaping a more innovative and resilient future for agriculture. I look forward to seeing how our participants harness technology and fresh ideas to develop practical solutions that can make farmer’s work simpler, more efficient and more sustainable.’
The winning teams will have the opportunity to showcase their solutions to policymakers, industry representatives and key stakeholders from across the European agri-food sector at the EU Agri-Food Days 2026 in December.
(For more information: Louise Bogey – Tel.: +32 229-69776; Marta Perez-Cejuela Romero – Tel.: +32 2 296 37 70)
Commissioner Hansen participates in the G7 Agriculture Ministers’ Meeting in Paris
Commissioner for Agriculture and Food, Christophe Hansen, will participate in the G7 Agriculture Ministers’ Meeting on 19 October in Paris, hosted by the French G7 Presidency. Discussions will focus on strengthening the resilience and sustainability of agricultural and food systems in the face of growing geopolitical, economic and climate-related challenges.
The morning ministerial meeting, held at the French Ministry of Agriculture, will focus on medium- and long-term strategies to strengthen agricultural resilience, with particular attention to soil, fertilisers and sustainable nutrient management. Ministers will also discuss the first outcomes of the work of the G7 Agricultural Chief Scientists.
The meeting builds on the virtual G7 Agriculture Ministers’ Meeting of 8 June, which focused on short-term responses to rising fertiliser prices and supply chain disruptions. The discussions in Paris will explore longer-term structural solutions to help farmers better anticipate and respond to future crises.
In the afternoon, Commissioner Hansen will join G7 Agriculture Ministers for a visit to the International Food Exhibition (SIAL) at Paris Nord Villepinte. The visit will provide an opportunity to engage with agrifood businesses and explore innovations supporting more sustainable and resilient food systems, including alternative protein sources, sustainable packaging and traceability solutions.
(For more information: Louise Bogey – Tel.: +32 229-69776; Marta Perez-Cejuela Romero – Tel.: +32 2 296 37 70)
Tentative agendas for forthcoming Commission meetings
Note that these items can be subject to changes.
Upcoming events of the European Commission
Eurostat press releases
Calendar items of the President and Commissioners
Individual calendars of the President and Commissioners